The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-07-26

What Dusky Young Wife Can Be
Bought For-Indian Women the
Klamath Absolutely sIaves-Impotency
of the Law.
Il have been teaching school among the
Indians" said pedagogue to a reporter the
other day, land speak from what has fallen
under my personal observation. You are
aware that there is a reservation located at
the mouth of the Klamath for the accommo-
dalton of tribes living in northern California.
bat very few of the klamath Indians are dis
posed to leave the white settlements scattered
along the river and adjacent territory, where
whisky is easily obtained for the dry district
on the borders of the ocean.
"AlOng the Klamath, therefore. are a num-
Der of clans, speaking different dialects, who
have their own laws and enforce them &C
cOrding to their own idea of political and do
nestle economy.
The squaws or young women are vendible
commodities, and are put upon the market at
a price supposed to correspond with their
charms. Her choice is not consulted in the
matter, and if a rivalry exists between bid
deTs for her possession she is knocked down to
the most liberal offer.
"a maiden of comedy appearance, and hay
ing a talent for plating hats, baskets and
other ornamental wicker ware, is of course a
more ulerchantabIe article than her sister
without accomplishments and without
beauty
"The price paid for a girl of the desirable
kind is in the neighborhoOd of twelve red
headed woOdpeckers, a brOnchO and breech
loading rifle, the woodpecker heads being
valued st $50 apiece and the pony and gun
at about $50 each, making the price of the
girl $40. This amount varies of course, ac-
cording to the financial standing of the pur-
chaser and the avarice of the parents. 1t Oc
ours occasionally that as much as $50 is
given for a girl, but she would be possessed of
unusual allurements and the purchaser
nabOb.
The lazy and oleaginous bucks, when they
have purchased a nominal wife-fOr they do
not consult the laws in respect to marriage
at once require their lady loves to enter upon
all the hard work obtainable. They in fact,
are required TO neglect nothing which might
contribute to the comfort of her lord, who
confines himself to an occasional hunting or
fishing expedition with the Otium cum digni-
tate for which the aboriginal American is
celebrated.
The women pack wood from the forests in
baskets, which are carried on the back and
supported by a band which encircles the fore
head They also collect gold dust from the
exposed bed rock in abandoned mines, which
Is handed over to their consOrts with religious
regularity.
at is a fact that the Indian women on the
Kismath are absolute slaves, but they are
faithful and loving, no matter how harshly
treated. You can readily imagine, however,
that on account of the hard life they lead by
the time middle age is reached they lose all
feminine charms and become hegs.
Il suppose it is generally known that white
men here purchased squaws for matrimonial
happy such unions are. White men who have
espoused squaws almost invariably cling to
them through every vicissitude Of life.
Divorces are unknown among them, and
'squaw men take pride in bOasting of the
good qualities of their purchases.
$50 far as the California penal code is con
cerned in its application to the Klamath Ind-
ans it is a dead letter. When an injury is
supposed to have been committed the perpe-
traitor is by common consent considered the
proper prey Of the party injured including
his relations, and ambuscades and assassina-
tions naturally ensue. Dead men tell no tales
and the live ones won't, so that investigation
never amounts to anything.
Let me tell you an incident illustrative of
the impOtency Of the law to reach the abO-
rigine In the mountain fastness of Del NOrte
county. l was teaching school in Happy
Camp, and one night parcel of boys, princi-
pally half breeds, were making a troublesome
noise outside of my window. After several
admonitions l sailed forth and laid about me
with a walkingstick. 1t was very dark, and
not being able to distinguish forms I struck
squaw on the funny bone She set up a fear
full howl, but quoted down when / offered
her s., being ashamed to have hit a woman.
The next afternoon when school was dis
missed a big, burly Indian buck marched into
the school room with a pistol III one coat
pocket and club in the other.
Il want that money he said.
"'What money do you want, Bybee,' I
asked.
That money you owe my mother he re
piled
He had his hand on the handle Of the pis-
toll, and I imagined that he was prepared 70
use it, but / was also satisfied that it would
never do TO show the white feather, so, grasp
ing Ratchet, I chased him from the room.
In turn he drew his weapon on a white
man and chased him home. He was then ar
rested, carried to Crescent City, and escaping
before trial, has ever since been lying around
Happy Camp, protected by his friends from
arrest
That Is but one instance. The Scott Bar
tribe and the lower river residents meet in
Joint session as often rs circumstances require
and settle disputes without recourse TO law
and in utter defiance Of It.7-San Francisco
Examiner